YES - 50 Live released July 19th

[Frumious B]

There's material that has never been bootlegged. There's more than we know about.

Henry

But if a kickass vintage Yes recording exists and nobody can hear it then does it actually make a sound?

[adap2it]

yes fan.jpg

Spotted today!

[bondegezou]

https://www.facebook.com/yestheband/...type=3&theater

There you go, what did I say?

"Towards the end of 2019, YES will be releasing a Box Set of BBC Sessions and Early Years recordings, primarily focussing on 1969 and 1970. This official release will eclipse anything released before, from this era, featuring a wealth of material that fans won’t have heard before."

There's material on this that you didn't even know existed.

Henry

[JJ88]

A public domain copyright extension release, perhaps. (Bob Dylan's camp have done a few of these in MP3 and then box set form.)

I will say that from memory, the previous release of the BBC material has not been from master sources but knowing the BBC, those probably don't even exist. Further professional recordings of the Banks/Kaye line-up could be very interesting though, should there be any.

[bondegezou]

A public domain copyright extension release, perhaps. (Bob Dylan's camp have done a few of these in MP3 and then box set form.)

I think that may be a factor in pushing this release forward, but I know Daniel's primary motivation with this release is for people to hear the music.

I will say that from memory, the previous release of the BBC material has not been from master sources but knowing the BBC, those probably don't even exist. Further professional recordings of the Banks/Kaye line-up could be very interesting though, should there be any.

The prior BBC release, which Pete Banks put together, often did not use the best sourcing. Better copies exist, at least in some cases. There are further professional recordings from the period in the archives that I presume will be in this set.

Henry

[Man In The Mountain]

https://www.facebook.com/yestheband/...type=3&theater

"Towards the end of 2019, YES will be releasing a Box Set of BBC Sessions and Early Years recordings, primarily focussing on 1969 and 1970. This official release will eclipse anything released before, from this era, featuring a wealth of material that fans won’t have heard before."

If it has recordings from "The YES Album" period, rather than only the first two albums, I'm totally in. Otherwise, I have enough from the early days.

[Sunlight Caller]

It seems a Limited window, they should push through to 1971 as there are a few decent live recordings that need release, notably the Yale Bowl boot. There’s also one I have from Italy, where the sound is not perfect, but perhaps better sources exist.

I am less interested in more BBC sessions of first two album and earlier material, but look forward to news on the contents in due course.

[JJ88]

Indeed the Yale Bowl show is a strong performance, a rare and well-recorded opportunity to hear this line-up at close quarters playing much of The Yes Album live. (Although why is it that 'Starship Trooper' took so long to be in the set? I don't think they ever played it live with Tony Kaye or Bill Bruford...did they?)

I am fond of the first two albums; in the case of Time And A Word I don't think the orchestration added much, but the material on both albums is very underrated. The possibillity of hitherto-undocumented good quality live recordings from this band is intriguing...far more so than this latter-day 'Yes- 50' release. IMHO.

[floyd umma gumma]

I'd love to hear any studio versions of the Time and a Word album without the orchestra. Also Magnification, for that matter.

[Paulrus]

It seems a Limited window, they should push through to 1971 as there are a few decent live recordings that need release, notably the Yale Bowl boot.

Aren't Yale Bowl and New Haven synonymous?

As for a Fragile-era live recording, I've always been clamoring for Wolverhampton. I haven't listened to my boot in a long time (cassette players RIP), but I recall it being as clean as other good early recordings.

[helix]

FWIW the YES50 vinyl release is currently on popmarket for a bit of a discount

[bondegezou]

If it has recordings from "The YES Album" period, rather than only the first two albums, I'm totally in. Otherwise, I have enough from the early days.

It seems a Limited window, they should push through to 1971 as there are a few decent live recordings that need release, notably the Yale Bowl boot. There’s also one I have from Italy, where the sound is not perfect, but perhaps better sources exist.

I am less interested in more BBC sessions of first two album and earlier material, but look forward to news on the contents in due course.

We do indeed have to wait and see what's in the release, how big this thing is overall, and what the cost is. My rough guess is that it will be Progeny sized rather than King Crimson box set sized. (Don't hold me to that.) I note that the organisers/band/management can't have finalised what's in it if they're soliciting contributions!

I note that the wording says the release is focusing on '69/70, implying there is post-1970 content (or maybe 1968 content?). There were post-1970 BBC sessions.

While the majesty and innovation of the band post-1970, into that main sequence of classic Yes albums, cannot be denied, I think the energy and excitement of the early band should not be under-estimated, and that it was somewhat poorly served by the studio albums of the period. I am interested in what there might be that could capture the first line-up in full flow. As with some of the Crimson boxes, what's in the archives may be more exciting than what was released at the time.

Henry

[Sean]

Wasn't that BBC stuff released in the 90s? Or is this the NEXT lineup after that?

[helix]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6cA...hVQLvqGy9V4rPU

[bondegezou]

Wasn't that BBC stuff released in the 90s? Or is this the NEXT lineup after that?

It was, in a deal Pete Banks did without the band's permission (it's a long story) and with some poor sourcing. This release, I understand, will have that, but probably in better quality, plus more BBC stuff, plus non-BBC stuff.

Henry

[Sean]

I wonder if the Yes Album lineup did any BBC sessions? That alone would make this a must buy.

[Paulrus]

I wonder if the Yes Album lineup did any BBC sessions? That alone would make this a must buy.

I'm guessing that the TOTP appearance is the only thing that would qualify. But lost gems keep popping up so who knows.

[JJ88]

^The TOTP appearance was from the show's very short-lived attempt at an 'album slot' (The Groundhogs were another band who appeared in that slot). But, like rather too much of the show, it was wiped and no longer exists.

As for BBC sessions not released:

http://missingepisodes.proboards.com...6/bbc-sessions

I didn't realise there's a longer 'For Everyone'. I think there's also a version of 'America' floating around with Tony Kaye but that's about it. There are a couple of tracks from TFTO which claim to be BBC sessions but I believe are just the album versions.

[bondegezou]

http://forgotten-yesterdays.com/ also lists BBC and other sessions and I think is pretty complete.

There are a couple of tracks from TFTO which claim to be BBC sessions but I believe are just the album versions.

This has been a matter of some debate. Maybe we'll find out.

Henry

[JJ88]

Might be of interest, I noticed this whilst reading another thread elsewhere:

“In the next couple of months, you will see sites for Led Zeppelin and Yes that will launch with the ability to buy or stream archival concerts… This is a trend that will spread to other artists, in particular, those with avid fans.”

https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threa...#post-21453421

[happytheman]

^The TOTP appearance was from the show's very short-lived attempt at an 'album slot' (The Groundhogs were another band who appeared in that slot). But, like rather too much of the show, it was wiped and no longer exists.

As for BBC sessions not released:

http://missingepisodes.proboards.com...6/bbc-sessions

I didn't realise there's a longer 'For Everyone'. I think there's also a version of 'America' floating around with Tony Kaye but that's about it. There are a couple of tracks from TFTO which claim to be BBC sessions but I believe are just the album versions.

America with Tony was included on The Word is Live

[JJ88]

^I meant a BBC session version. There's one in not very good quality.

[BravadoNJ]

That's a great album and a great quality recording (sans some crowd noise). It's in rotation in my itunes, and have watched the DVD several times as well.

after looking at the track list for Yes' upcoming live album, i decided to get the ARW release instead. watching it now and loving it, i can't think of anyone else singing these songs except Jon Anderson.

[Steve983]

Anyone else got theirs yet? I got the cd set and have played disc 1 so far, very pleased with it and now ordered the vinyl...

Initial thoughts:
Billy's mix is first class, a really nice balanced sound where you can hear all the band all the time.
Billy's bass playing is also superb, at times I forgot it wasn't Chris.
Steve's playing is a little uneven, but I like that these days he seems to keep me guessing as to how he's going to play something.
Drums all very good as far as I can hear.
Geoff's keys were lacking at times, notably during Close To The Edge and the Awaken intro was particularly er - not good.
During Awaken I realised how hard it is for someone who isn't Jon Anderson to hit those notes, Davison does it well of course but it shouldn't be taken for granted what a talent he is.
Crowd noise? Actually not much, it fades out all too quickly at the end of Awaken.

Will listen to cd2 later.

[Kcrimso]

Uh... song "Close To The Edge" on this is completely horrible. Slow, weak and overtly cautious. Where is the intensity? Where is the danger? It seems obvious to me that song like "Close To The Edge" is way too complicated music for this current group.